Gazza vows to overcome alcohol addiction

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Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne said he can overcome the demons which saw him admitted to hospital in a drink-fuelled stupor.

Paul Gascoigne. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Archive

The 46-year-old, whose legacy on the pitch has been overshadowed by alcohol and drug attractions, was treated in a Dorset hospital when he suffered a relapse last week after spending the previous seven months clean.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I know I can overcome this. I am an alcoholic so I am taking one day at a time, but I will get there."

The former Tottenham Hotspur player said he turned to drink after being served with an eviction notice on his flat in Sandbanks, Poole, and described his latest relapse as a "blip".

He told the newspaper: "Up until a few weeks ago, I was doing great. I have an illness and I had a bad moment. Now I want to make sure it doesn't happen again."